Auxiliary Bishop Charles Scicluna yesterday spoke about the importance of voluntary work in the Church, saying it was a reflection of the Church’s intimate life.

Speaking at the launch of a code of ethics for volunteers and voluntary organisations falling within the remit of the Church, Mgr Scicluna thanked the many people who gave their time and energy to the Church, such as teaching and helping in celebrations.

The document points out that volunteering is an “individual’s conscious choice”, so organisations must uphold the rights of volunteers and ensure they were aware of them.

Organisations must provide new volunteers with an informative, explanatory plan with information about its structure and their specific roles, helping them to perform their duties efficiently.

They must also be given ongoing training and guidance in every aspect of their work.

The document states that a voluntary must have official recognition from the local diocesan authorities, parish priest or any other Catholic religious order or congregation and has to be set up for a legitimate aim and operate on a non-profit basis.